Football: Coples, Reddick teaming up for community events

Published: Saturday, July 12, 2014 at 07:24 PM.

KINSTON | Kevin Reddick grew up in the Craven Terrace area of New Bern. Even before he joined the National Football League, he felt like he needed to give back to his community.

Reddick will host his first community weekend on July 19, which includes a football camp at New Bern High, followed by a cookout at the Stanley White Recreation Center.

But this weekend, the New Bern native and New Orleans Saints linebacker is helping to support his buddy Quinton Coples, and the Quinton Coples Community Weekend in Kinston.

Reddick, along with Coples, are a couple current NFL players giving back to the Kinston community.

“I’ve always felt like I needed to give back because we don’t have a lot of guys doing that,” Reddick said. “That’s always been a big thing for me and I said that even before I was even in the NFL, when my time came, I would give back.”

Reddick and Coples, a third-year linebacker for the New York Jets, are managed by the same company – Millenium Sports Management.

They both played football at North Carolina, and together are helping each other with their charitable foundations. Coples is planning to be in New Bern for Reddick’s community event next week.

KINSTON | Kevin Reddick grew up in the Craven Terrace area of New Bern. Even before he joined the National Football League, he felt like he needed to give back to his community.

Reddick will host his first community weekend on July 19, which includes a football camp at New Bern High, followed by a cookout at the Stanley White Recreation Center.

But this weekend, the New Bern native and New Orleans Saints linebacker is helping to support his buddy Quinton Coples, and the Quinton Coples Community Weekend in Kinston.

Reddick, along with Coples, are a couple current NFL players giving back to the Kinston community.

“I’ve always felt like I needed to give back because we don’t have a lot of guys doing that,” Reddick said. “That’s always been a big thing for me and I said that even before I was even in the NFL, when my time came, I would give back.”

Reddick and Coples, a third-year linebacker for the New York Jets, are managed by the same company – Millenium Sports Management.

They both played football at North Carolina, and together are helping each other with their charitable foundations. Coples is planning to be in New Bern for Reddick’s community event next week.

“Kevin has been like a brother to me ever since we met each other in high school,” Coples said. “It’s great that he’s in the league as well.

“We both have a similar mindset on making things happen. It’s a pleasure to do this with him.”

Coples’ Community Weekend included a banquet and auction Friday night at the Woodman Center in Kinston. He had a football camp and basketball tournament Saturday.

And Sunday, there will be a cookout at Southeast Elementary School in Kinston.

“It’s a great thing to be able to come back and give to the community and give back to the city that raised me and brought me up,” Coples said. “I feel like it’s due diligence to get out here and make sure these kids see the proper way to do things, and to make a difference in their lives because they are the future.”

Coples, a first round selection in the 2012 NFL Draft, brought in some of his New York Jets’ teammates, including defensive lineman Muhammed Wilkerson, who had 10.5 sacks last season.

“Me and Quinton met at Hargrave Military Academy and had a friendship ever since. He went to North Carolina and I went to Temple University,” Wilkerson said. “We always kept in contact and once he became a Jet, it made it even better.

“Those are the guys I’ve been the closest with since I got to the Jets. It’s great to have them come out here and I appreciate it,” Coples said. “I want to continue to show kids that it doesn’t matter where you from, you can always help and give back.”

The Jets were ranked 19th in total defense last season.

With a beefy defensive line that also includes Sheldon Richardson, Wilkerson expects the Jets to be much improved, especially with defensive-minded Rex Ryan still as the head coach.

“It’s all about competing. We like to compete,” Wilkerson said. “We joke around, but we like to get after it as well. We challenge each other and making each other better.

“We are going to be as good as we can. We are going to come in and work hard each and every day and try to have a better outcome than we did last year.”

Reddick’s community event kicks off with “The Kevin Reddick Defense and Combine Training Camp” for kids between the ages of 6-18, from 8 a.m. until noon at New Bern High School. The camp is free.

Afterward, from 1 p.m. until 6 p.m., the “Kevin Reddick Community Cookout” will take place at the Stanley White Recreation Center, open to the public.

Some of his NFL friends are expecting to be on hand.

Adam Thompson is the sports editor of the Sun Journal. He can be contacted at 252-635-5669. Follow Adam on Twitter @Adam_matic.